For Immediate Release
Office of the Press Secretary
February 23, 2001
Remarks by the President in Photo Opportunity with the Budget Review Board
The Roosevelt Room
9:25 A.M. EST
THE
PRESIDENT: Good morning. Welcome to the Budget
Review Board. We've been going over the budget that I'll be
submitting to the Congress next Tuesday night. I want to
thank OMB Director Mitch Daniels for doing a really fine job.
It is a
budget that clearly sets out priorities. It is a budget that
sets aside Social Security money for only -- to be used only for Social
Security. It is a budget that will substantially pay down
debt, and it's a budget that provides meaningful, real tax relief for
our citizens.
In the
budget, I prioritize education. I talked about that
yesterday. We also prioritize the health care
needs. We recognize the federal government plays a very
important role in researching cures for disease, and, therefore, our
budget increases the NIH budget for 2002 by $2.8 billion, the largest
increase in that department's history.
And so I'm
very much looking forward for the American people to see and hear the
budget presentation. It's a practical budget. It
makes a lot of sense; it meets a lot of needs. And the
people of this country are going to realize we spent a lot of time on
it, and will realize that they've got an administration that is
practical, full of common sense, and always asks the question, how can
we help the people of the country.
Thanks.
Q Is
the uptick in inflation going to make it harder to get the economy
going again?
THE
PRESIDENT: Not with the Secretary of the Treasury at the
helm.
Thanks a
lot.
Q Are
you going to Puerto Rico to see the Rangers?
THE
PRESIDENT: Are you?
Q I'd
like to.
THE
PRESIDENT: I'm not putting out my opening day plans yet.
END 9:30
A.M. EST
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